Being Grateful

Have you ever said ‘I’m just having one of those days’? Doesn’t it start to feel like every day is one of those days after a while? The negative feelings and interactions with other people snowball until you are one big ball of frustration and irritation. Life seems like an uphill struggle, and insecurities and anxious feelings are at their highest.

Leading up the summer of 2016 my life was a little bit… let’s say bumpy. My mind was all over the place, I couldn’t decide what I wanted to do with myself, and I was feeling uninspired. I announced several times to my husband and family that I had decided on a new career path, only to dismiss it a few days later. I honestly thought I was having a pre-midlife crisis (…possibly midlife. Eeek, am I that old already?)

It was an unusual time.

I started reading all the self-help books I could get my hands on (some better than others). I gravitated towards motivational speakers on Youtube, rather than my usual beauty ‘gurus’, and I started to move away from beauty blogs and magazines, and towards stories of inspirational people.

I would wake up feeling apathetic at best, and downright miserable at worst. I wouldn’t describe it as clinical depression, more misery and low mood.

But then one day it all fell into place with a thud. The way I was feeling was because of me. It was the way I was reacting to situations that was making me feel so rubbish. I was in charge of my life – no one else.

I started to work on being grateful for what I do have, instead of grumbling about what I don’t have.

Doing this has had a greater impact on my life than I ever would have imagined.

Gratitude, giving thanks, feeling blessed, whatever you want to call it is essential to my own mental well-being, and I would bet that if you are feeling low it would help you too.

Which feels better? Noticing the things that are missing from your life, or noticing the positive aspects? I know what feels better to me.

I’ve tried both approaches extensively, and have come to the conclusion that life is better when I make a point of finding the good and ignoring the bad.

For the most part now I feel like I have moved on to a better place. Doing so has been a journey, and is still ongoing. One of the biggest changes that has come about in my thinking, is feeling grateful for the things that are going well, and taking the time to appreciate the good.

It is also something that needs to be kept in check every day. Feeling happy and grateful one day a month doesn’t really cut it. I start and end each day with lying in bed remembering all the people and things (yes, things, it’s not evil and materialistic to be grateful for things) that I am blessed with.

My children; my marriage; my parents and extended family; our health. A roof over our heads; money to buy food; cars to make life easier; gadgets to keep us busy and entertained; music; movies; The Walking Dead (I’m kidding about that one – kind of). Education; freedom; books. I really could go on all day.

Even those that feel that nothing goes their way can find something to be grateful for each day. It’s the quickest way to feeling uplifted, I guarantee it.

Let me know what you’re grateful for in the comments, I know you can do it.

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